Table and box convertible structure



y 15, 1951 H. G. CONNER 2,553,082

TABLE AND BOX CONVl 3RTIBI.-E STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Harvey 6. Conner INVENTOR.

May 1.5 1951 H. G. CONNER 2,553,082

TABLE AND BOX CONVERTIBLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 50, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /5 Fig. 2.

I5 I M: H E1 1 1 *m l "l i 1 I; ,6 I a /4 v W //i\\\\\\\\\ k 4 8 Honey 6. Conner 6 JNVENTOR May 1-5., 1951 H. G. CONNER TABLE AND BOX CONVERTIBLE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 30, 1948 Harvey 6. Conner JNVENTOR.

flw and Patented May 15, 951

'TABLEIANDQ BOX CONVERTIBLE" STRUCTURE Harvey G. Conner, Klamath Ealls,i reg;

AprilidaitiohAugust. 30, 1948, Serial .N 0. 46,733

:21Claims.

'My invention relates to improvements in-'table and box convertiblestructuresofthe folding type for camping and "like purposes, the primary obpect inviewbeing to provide-a simply constructed, inexpensive structure whichis adapted to be easily and quickly converted into *atable, or into a box for carrying food *and other supplies to Ebe used on the table.

Another object is to provide-astructureof the type and for the :purpose above set forth which will not collapse when used as a table nor accidentally unfold when used as-aboxand-which may be -strongly -constructed without rendering the-same heavy to'car-ry when converted into a box.

Other andsubordinate objects, within the .purview of myinvention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily-understood when the succeeding description and claims are read-withvreference -to the drawings accompanying and-forming part of the specification.

In said drawings:

Figure :1 isa-vview in perspective of my improved structureconverted into a table with one-extension panel detached;

Figure 2 israiragmentary yiew in-transverse section taken on :the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and drawn to a larger: scale;

Figure 3 is a viewin'bottom plan-of the table p;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary-view in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 5 .is a fragmentary exploded :view in perspective of one corner of theqtablei tomanxl one of the legs;

Figure 6 is a viewin perspective of the box and Figure 7 isua .view in .transverse section taken on the line 'l--1.of.Figure 6 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary'view in transverse section taken onthe line 88 of -Figure-6 and drawn tora :larger. scale;

Figure .9 is a fragmentary'view -in transverse section ataken on the lined-+9 of' Figure i0 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of the extension panels illustrating the manner in which the same are attached together;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line I l-ll of Figure '7.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, the basic components of my improved structure are a pair of elongated, ox forminghalf sections 1 =each embodying-a pair of longitudinal right angularly related -'-bottom and side panels 2, 3 respectively, and rectangular ends 4, said sections I being otherwise open. The sections i are wider'than the depth thereof and I the ends are'hingedtogether, as at 5, at the ends- 0f the sections and at corresponding--cornersof the ends 4-so thatsaid-sections l may 'beswung into edge to-edge abutting relationto forrman open box of a width equal to' the 'combined -width -of the sections and providing -=a-table top 6-of invertedbox -form=with the side panels 3 and-the ends 4 forming the' sides and ends of H said heir; all as-best shown in' Figures -1,*2and' 3.

Right angled brackets 8 -are-provided in the corners of the sections I and legs- '9 -for--slidably fitting in said-bracketsand corners to-support the table+top 4i, said legs-B being slidably detachable for a "purpose presentlyseen.

'Complemental lockbOlt and'keeper-sections:IO, H are set into abuttinglongitudinal edges of the bottom panels 2 of the sections to be hidden from view :and for keyoperation of the lock bolt section Ill to -secure'saidsections l-together in table -=top forming :relation. A keyhole -'l2'-is provided in one bottom panel-*Z-ioralock operating key not shown.

"Suitable reinforcing and ornamenting cleats I'3' may be provided on the-' ends' i of -the-sec-- tions I.

'A pair -of -rectangular extension panels W4 are provided for-attaching "'detachably to opposite sides of the =table top 6 and which are of the samelength as--'the bottom and side =panels 2, 3,

bottom panels 2 of the sectionsirwhich-is-to' say with the top of the table top 6, and with said cleats bearing upwardly against the under faces of said panels 2 to maintain the extensions [4 horizontal.

The described table top 6 is adapted to be converted into a box, after the legs 9 and the extension panels l4 are detached, in the following manner. The sections I are swingable on the hinges 5 in edge to edge abutting relation from table top forming relation to form a box I! of a width equal to twice the depth of said sections, as shown in Fig. 6, with the bottom panels 2 forming the sides of the box I1 and the side panels 3 forming the bottom of said box. Thus, the box I! is rendered substantially narrower than the table top 6.

The extension panels I4 are attachable together with longitudinal edges abutting to form a top I8 for the box I1. For this purpose, one pair of the cleats I5 is spaced apart to fit between the other pair and the pairs of cleats I5 are provided with transversely bevelled sides I9 fitting together in pairs so that one pair of cleats is slidable endwise along the other with the cleats I5 of each extension panel I4 underlying the other extension panel I4 and the pairs of cleats I5 interlocked against lateral separation, thereby locking the extension panels I4 in coplanar edge to edge relation.

As previously explained, the extension panels I4 are of a width corresponding to the depth of the sections I so that the top I8 formed thereby provides a fitted top for the box I'I.

One pair of cleats I5 is provided with end nubs 20 adapted to fit in sockets 2| in one of the panels 3 forming one side of the box I! so that the nubs 20 ma be inserted in the sockets 2I and the top then swung downwardly into closing position while interlocked at one longitudinal edge with one side of the box formed by the side panels 3 of one section I. One extension panel I4 is provided in one longitudinal edge with a keeper lock section 22 for cooperation with the lock bolt sec tion ID to lock the top I8 in place when the sections I are swung, as described, to form the box II, it being understood that in the box I! the lock bolt section I is disposed at the top of one side of the box II. Thusthe top I8 for the box I1 may be locked closed by the same key as that used for locking the sections I in table forming relation.

A suitable latch-23 is pivoted, as at 24, on one side panel 3 forming the bottom of the box I! and for swinging into cooperative relation to a pin 25 on the other side panel 3 to lock the sections I together in box forming relation. As will be seen, when the box I! is formed, the before mentioned apertures I6 are disposed in the bottom of said box and the hinges protrude above the top of said box. To accommodate the hinges 5 the extension panels I4 are provided withlongitudinal, bevelled, end notches 26 in which said hinges 5 are seated when the top I8 is locked or closed.

It may be mentioned in passing, that the keeper section II is also disposed at the top of the box I! when said box is formed but is, of course, not used. As may also be mentioned, when the sections I are in table forming relation, the latch 23 is disposed on one side panel 3 inside the table top 6 and concealed from view, the stud 25 being similarly located on the other side panel 3.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A table and box forming structure comprising a pair of elongated box forming sections each embodying a pair of right angularly related bottom and side panels, respectively, and a pair of rectangular ends, means pivotally connecting said sections together for relative swinging into edge abutting relation to form selectively a table top of'inverted box form of a width corresponding to the width of both sections and a box of a width corresponding to the depth of both sections, legs attachable to said sections to support the same when forming a table top, a pair of extension panels attachable to the sections when formed into a table top, and means for attaching said extension panels together to form a top for the box formed by said sections comprising a pair of cross cleats on each extension panel, one pair slidably fitting between the other pair with the cleats on each panel overlapping and engaging the other panel, said cleats having beveled side edges coacting to hold said extension panels in a common plane.

2. A table and box forming structure comprising a pair of elongated box forming sections each embodying a pair of right angularl related bottom and side panels, respectively, and a pair of rectangular ends, said. sections being wider than the depth thereof, respecively, means pivotally connecting said sections together for relative swinging into edge abutting relation to form selectively a table LOP of inverted box form of a width corresponding to the width of both sections and a box of a width corresponding to the depth of both sections, and extension panels attachable to the sections when formed into a table top and attachable together; to form a top for the box formed by said sections, said bottom panels having locking devices thereon for securing said sections together when formed into a table top, and means for'locking said extension panels when attached together to said box including a locking device coacting with one of the first mentioned locking devices.

HARVEY G. CONNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

